Leigh Beck Junior School is committed to develop provision for young carers and their families.

The whole school is committed to meeting the needs of young carers so that they can attend and enjoy school in the same way as other pupil/students and achieve their potential.

The school has an effective referral system and strong partnership in place with relevant external agencies, including referral to Young Carer agencies providing key workers who will work with young carers and families. The school only shares information with professionals and agencies on a need to know basis in order to support pupils and their families.

We have appointed designated Young Carers’ School Leads with responsibility for young carers and their families. Families and students can speak to them to access support. Leigh Beck Junior School will actively seek feedback and ideas from young carers and their families to shape and improve support.
We will strive to achieve best practice for students and families in our school in order to provide them with the best chance of success in their future.

What is a young carer?

A student is a young carer if you’re under 18 and look after someone in your family who:

is ill or disabled
uses drugs or alcohol

This person could be a parent, grandparent, brother, or sister.
Being a carer means looking after someone who could not cope without their support, but they could be offering support for just a couple of hours a week.

Many young people don’t see themselves as carers and may not realise there is practical and emotional support available in Essex.

You may be a young carer if you:

care for a family member, because of illness, disability or old age
help someone with bathing or dressing, going to the toilet or getting into/out of bed
need to cook for your family
look after money or organise the family budget
help anyone to take medication regularly
collect prescriptions or benefits on behalf of someone else or go shopping for the family
look after brothers or sisters, by taking them to school, doing their laundry, or cooking their meals
take care of housework, such as dusting, hoovering, washing or ironing
speak on behalf of someone who has difficulty speaking or communicating for themselves
translate or interpret for someone at home

The effects of being a young carer

You have responsibilities at home that prevent you from spending time with your friends, or inviting them around your house.
You feel sad, angry, guilty or embarrassed about the help you give to anyone at home.
You feel upset that friends don’t have the same responsibilities.
You avoid telling anyone outside the family about your home situation.

How can the young carer key workers help?

They offer free personalised support to young carers and their families that will be developed with you around your need for help and the caring you do.

The service offers:
Confidential one-to-one support with a dedicated key worker in the area you live, including telephone support.
Information, advice and guidance and assisting you to access other services to support you as a young carer.
Training opportunities e.g. moving people safely, building confidence and self-esteem, fire safety and access to counselling services if needed.
Recreational activities to take you away from your caring role and meet other young carers and make new friends.
Transition to adult carer services as you come up to 18.

Where can you access the Essex Young Carers Service?

Key workers are available across the whole of Essex and will be based in your local area.
They will visit you at home, school or somewhere else at an agreed time.

How can you access the service?

Families or young carers themselves can self-refer or a referral can be made by professionals. At Leigh Beck Junior School, you have four designated leads for Young Carers who you can speak to:

Stephanie Crump - Young Carer Senior Lead
Leonie Gray - Young Carers Operational Lead
Toyah McHiggins - Young Carer Ambassador
Gemma Channon -Young Carer Ambassador

If you wish to self-refer, this can be done via the online form or by emailing young.carers@essex.gov.uk

Below are some websites, which provide more information on young carers and provide support and advice.
If you think someone you know might be a young carer, please take a look at the following websites for further support:

youth.essex.gov.uk/young-people/young-carers

www.css-essex.co.uk/students/safeguarding-2/EYC

whocarestour.org.uk/am-i-young-carer

affc.org.uk/services/young-carers

Local support services available:

1. Action for Carers

Brickhouse Farm, Poulton Close, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6NG

0300 770 80 90

care@affc.org.uk

www.affc.org.uk

2. Carers First

Unit 4 (Ground Floor), Century Drive, Braintree, Essex, CM77 8YG

0300 303 1555

hello@CarersFIRST.org.uk

www.carersfirst.org.uk/essex

Use the link below to find other local services to you:

www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/young-carers/local-service-finder